Months passed and the cool warmth of spring eventually gave way to the scorching heat of Summer, followed by a yellow and orange Fall. During that time, Brad never saw or spoke to Iris. But despite the lack of any kind of physical presence, he could not peel her sticky memories away from his everyday life. The bathroom ravaging - now so many months behind him - coated his existence like some kind of terribly-colored wall in an otherwise pleasant room.
Immediately following Brad's eighteenth birthday, the lingering aches of his step-sister's assault upon his young cock and asshole had left him raging and desperate. For the first few weeks afterward, any silent moment was invaded by memories of his hands pressed against the cold bathroom stall with his legs spread wide open for Iris. On those days, Brad found himself unable to control his sexual impulses, masturbating at least three times a day wherever he could: public restrooms, the college library, even in his parked car. These measures had to be taken just to keep the lust at a manageable level.
But with each powerful orgasm, the memories of his birthday and Iris grew further away from the present. What were once vivid images, scared into his psyche, eventually faded into a muddled, hazy fog. The slight pain in his asshole, and the sensitivity Iris had left upon his privates, dimmed along with the depraved thoughts.
A measured solace drifted over Brad the first time he realized he might actually be getting over the evening his step-sister forced upon him.
By the time Brad began his first semester of college - students returned to campus in the waning days of Summer - the birthday night had become nearly a phantom in the dark. In fact, time began to make Brad unable to accurately recall what took place altogether. That is to say Brad knew something had absolutely occurred, but the specifics and individual details seemed lost as fresh studies replaced their living quarters within the young man's mind.
It was also during the first week of school that Brad discovered he was unable to get an erection.
The first night the phenomenon occurred, the young man simply explained it away as a side-effect of exhaustion and anxiety brought on by diving head-first into the next chapter in his life. But as the one-time experience grew into a habitual pattern that eventually reared its ugly head any moment Brad tried to relieve himself, it dawned on him that something more sinister was at play.
Through process of elimination, Brad deduced that nothing within the wide-reaches of the Internet could produce a lift from his wilted shaft. Weeks passed, until one night, in a desperate fit of sexual frustration, Brad's fingers slithered away from his cock and down between his thighs, much in the same way Iris' had on that fateful night. As the devious fingers found their way to the spot his step-sister had penetrated in those forgotten, fevered visions, an obvious pulse shot through Brad's once lifeless member.
The sensation was enough to cause his fingers to dart away while a deep shame descended onto Brad. Somewhere inside, he knew his step-sister had changed him forever. In his exploration, he had discovered some invisible barrier between him and his sexuality, a hardened wall that Iris had built in secret.
Weeks flew past and Brad never again touched himself, burying the confusion and revelations of the experience inside of him.
* * *
November came and Iris was still nowhere to be found.
Through various small talk around his home, Brad came to the conclusion that his step-mother, Debra, may have heard from her once or twice, but where she was and what she was doing remained a comfortable mystery to him.
The Thursday before Thanksgiving, Brad finally worked up enough courage to ask his classmate, Sarah, out on a date. She was the same age as him and two inches shorter; a small, shy, blonde girl who smiled often.
That Friday they went to the theater and watched the seasonal CGI kids movie - something light for the first date. By the end of the evening, they shared a kiss on Sarah's porch after Brad drove her home.
The next day, Brad was so smitten with Sarah that he invited her to Thanksgiving with his folks; Sarah was thrilled at his forwardness and accepted with a squeal.
That would be the day the two teenagers would eventually tell everyone their relationship really began.
* * *
Brad paced back and forth at the entry of his families two-story home, hesitant to open the door.
He had just picked up Sarah, who stood a foot back from him, a little puzzled at the sudden bout of nervousness coming from her new boyfriend.
"Everything ok, babe?" the small girl asked him quietly, a hint of concern in her words.
The sound of Sarah's voice temporarily buried the spectre that haunted him. Brad hadn't heard anything in the days leading up to the event that should cause him worry, and he quickly realized that thinking the worse would only make the situation more nerve-racking.
His hand suddenly steadied as it reached out and turned the front door knob.
"Yes," Brad responded with false sincerity, "everything is perfect."
The two then made their way inside and walked through the tight entryway hand-in-hand, leaving their coats on a rack by the front door.
Taking just a few steps deeper inside caused the house opened itself up before Sarah's eyes. Brad lived in a very open, very tall, two story house that featured four bedrooms. As she stepped further into the wide living room, Sarah swirled around to see inside the kitchen and dining room, both impressively visible from the first floor.
Natural sunlight poured in from the tall windows that covered the far living-room wall from base to ceiling.
By the time the small blonde was able to peer into the crowded dining area, relatives were already upon Brad and Sarah. The next half-hour was a bombardment of curious questions and loving compliments. Everyone was happy that Brad had finally managed to find such a sweet girl, and even more thrilled that she was joining them for the occasion.
After the last of the aunts and uncles finally let the couple alone, Debra corralled the two dozen or so people occupying her home into the spacious dining room. They were guided around a main table that could support most of the family, but a smaller table was also set aside for the children. Each table had traditional, steaming dishes crammed together carefully, leaving everyone a small space for their plate and silverware.
Brad's father, Jonathan, joined his wife at her side as she let out her gratitude:
"We just want to thank everyone again for helping make this Thanksgiving so beautiful; especially our son and his adorable girlfriend: Sarah," Debra exclaimed with a smile across her face.
The young couple looked down and blushed heavily, both taken back by the kind words.
"Now, please, everyone dig in!"
The dining room burst into somewhat of a free-for-all as Brad, Sarah, and all the family gathered various vegetables and meats onto their plates, everyone doing what they could to be as polite as possible through the fuss. Within five minutes, most present had taken a seat and were eagerly stuffing their faces with the freshly prepared feast.
To Brad, the moment was perfect.
Or at least as close to perfect as it would be.
While consuming a fresh bite of mashed potatoes, he quickly noticed there was a single empty space at the otherwise lively table: a deserted chair that was situated directly across from him. The looming emptiness was sandwiched between his step-mother, Debra, and his step-sister, Katherine. Both women enjoyed their meals without paying any mind to the vacant space between them.
The sight made it difficult for Brad to continue with his food.
He didn't even have to ask; he knew exactly who the seat was saved for.
Silently, he prayed that the spot would never find its occupant.
As the meal drug on, lively conversation slowly took over as some of the faster eater's cleaned their plates. The topics of discussion broached everything from the high-school sports teams to the upcoming presidential election. As each subject was explored, wine and brown liquor bottles began to grow light. Even Brad had managed to temporarily settle his unease through a tall glass of red wine.
A particularly loud uncle was belting out a laugh at some politically-incorrect joke when Brad caught sight of a ghost waltzing into the lively gathering with a familiar grin spread across its lips.
"Iris!" Debra let out from her spot, wiping the food on her face away in preparation to greet her daughter, "I almost didn't think you'd make it!"
Brad nearly choked on the half-chewed turkey in his mouth.
"Mother, please, don't get up. Just relax and enjoy your food, Ill be right over".
The entrance of his tall, blond step-sister now left Brad with his mouth hanging open.
